Are you the crafty type? Do you knit, sew, make unique things, break out the glitter-glue, modelling clay or paintbrushes every time you think about presenting presents to your loved ones?
Maybe you would like to send something handmade to your friends and family who live afar. Perhaps this year you need or want to simplify gifts, but still want to make something beautiful, handmade, and very easy to mail. Well, you can take an afternoon, take some supplies, and take your sewing machine… and…
Sewing on Paper!
You can sew on paper! If you make or buy heavy weighted paper cards they will hold stitching. I used Strathmore cards for mine, they’re available throughout Canada in many craft-supply or stationery stores. There are lots of other fine-quality cards out there, or just cut your own cards out of heavy paper. You can make envelopes for them yourself out of “regular” paper, packaging, gift-wrap… or re-use old envelopes.
I painted with acrylic paints first, then added glitter-glue (hahaha), and did a touch or two more of the acrylic. I worked on several cards at once, so that if I had a colour on my palette, it could be used on all of the cards at one time. I finally ended with a line or two of stitching to tack down some sequins. Instead of sequins you could use fabrics, scraps of wool or other objects instead. Or… just use the stitching as a level of the decoration. You could really piece something fabulous together that would be more than just a card, it would be a keepsake work of art for the lucky person who receives it.
The finished card, a work of mailable art!
Natasha Henderson, Montreal
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